But Thap Pagoda, radiance of national treasure. Chùa Bút Tháp,Vietnam

But Thap Pagoda (officially Ninh Phuc Temple 寧福寺) is one of the oldest and most famous pagodas in the Kinh Bac region, located in But Thap area, Tri Qua ward, Thuan Thanh town, Bac Ninh province. Approximately 25km east of Hanoi, it is a typical Buddhist architectural complex from the Le Trung Hung period and has been classified as a Special National Monument since 2013. History and Name: Origin: The pagoda is said to have been built during the reign of King Tran Thanh Tong (14th century). By the 17th century, it was built and expanded on a large scale thanks to the contributions of Empress Dowager Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc and high-ranking monks such as Zen Master Chuyet Chuyet and Zen Master Minh Hanh. Name: But Thap Pagoda: In 1876, when King Tu Duc passed by, he saw the towering Bao Nghiem stone pagoda, shaped like a giant pen writing on the blue sky, and named it But Thap Pagoda. Local people also call it Nhan Thap Pagoda. Unique Architecture: The pagoda is built in a perfectly balanced and symmetrical "Inner courtyard, outer enclosure" layout, facing south. The entire complex consists of many ancient wooden buildings nestled peacefully along the Duong River embankment. Bao Nghiem Tower: A 13.05m high, five-story green stone tower, the symbol that gives the pagoda its name. Stone Bridge: An ancient, curved stone bridge connecting the Upper Hall and the Tich Thien Am building. Priceless National Treasures: But Thap Pagoda is considered a "living museum" as it preserves a system of exquisite wood carvings, most notably four groups of National Treasures: The Thousand-Eyed, Thousand-Handed Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Statue: The most perfect ancient wood carving masterpiece in Vietnam, dating back to 1656, carved by artisan Truong Tho Nam. The Nine-Tiered Lotus Tower: A nine-tiered wooden tower that can rotate around an axis, intricately carved with Buddha and lotus images. The Three Buddhas Statues: Three statues representing the past, present, and future. The Wooden Altar: An extremely exquisite carving of dragons and flowers from the 17th century. But Thap Pagoda Festival: The pagoda's traditional festival takes place annually on the 23rd and 24th of the third lunar month. Besides solemn Buddhist rituals, the festival also features many unique cultural activities such as Quan Ho folk singing from Bac Ninh, water puppetry, chess, and pigeon release. #vietnam #hungyen #ButThapPagoda #ChùaBútTháp #千手観音 #nationaltreasure